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PessoaRodrigo GenXJumping Saddles

Purchase: I bought this saddle new in the spring of 2007 from a local tack store which had to order it from English Riding Supply. I paid about $1200. which I believe was list less a small discount at the time. This tack store (located at a stable) did not have in-stock saddles to try, but let me try some other rider's saddles (from the stable) on my horse to see what I might like, and someone else had this particular model, which I thought was quite comfortable. Another person at the stable had the Pessoa A/O and liked it, too. I also thought Pessoa was probably a good quality saddle brand.
I got a 16.5" Oakbark color with pencil knee rolls, grained leather flaps. This is not the XCH model.

Likes: This saddle required no break-in period - so comfortable immediately. The leather is good quality. It seats you properly on the horse.

Dislikes: Both my daughter and I ride in the saddle. It's a 16.5" and we are both slender. However, we have long legs (I'm 5'5") and my daughter's legs are getting even longer than mine. Our knees extend over the knee flap, which I really don't like, as I think it then doesn't provide the support it should be and it also doesn't look right. (My stirrups are NOT too short, I actually ride a little longer than George Morris would probably like.) I didn't really notice this til after I was riding in the saddle, and there was a "no return" policy.

Quality: Overall leather quality is great. Overall construction is fine, with the exception of a piece of leather which is behind the stirrup bar and under the flap. It is glued on at the top, loose at the bottom (over the billets) and the glue has come off, so that when you are taking the stirrup leather off and on, or cleaning it, it tends to move around. This is annoying, and one side in particular started bunching up almost immediately. I have to straighten it out each time I clean it.

Summary: This is a well-constructed, comfortable, saddle which does its job. If Pessoa offered a longer flap/more forward knee roll, I would get that next time.